Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Asiatic lions to roar again at Mysuru zoo

Renitha, a young lioness, to be brought from Sakkarbaug zoo in Gujarat under an animal exchange programme

Asiatic lions will roar again at Mysuru zoo as two big
cats from Sakkarbaug and Rajkot zoos in Gujarat are likely to make it
their new home soon.

Renitha, a lioness from
Sakkarbaug zoo in Junagadh, which breeds Asiatic lions in captivity,
will soon be brought to Mysuru zoo under an animal exchange programme.
“The lioness will be brought in the next few days as all the formalities
have been completed,” said Kamala Karikalan, executive director of
Mysuru zoo. She told
The Hindu
that a proposal was sent to Rajkot zoo seeking a male lion and the
officials there have agreed. “If this proposal with Rajkot zoo too
materialises, the zoo will get a pair of young lions and it will be
useful for us in stepping up captive breeding of the endangered
species,” Ms. Kamala said.

In return, Mysuru zoo will be giving a pair of black swans, two Indian grey wolves and a pair of sun conure birds, she said.

The
Asiatic lion is listed as an endangered species, surviving only in Gir
forest in Gujarat. Sakkarbaug zoo is well known for breeding them and
later releasing them into Gir forest.

Five
years ago, Mysuru zoo received a pair of lions from Sakkarbaug zoo
under the exchange programme. The lioness, Gowri, suffered a health
problem and did not recover fully despite constant treatment. Gowri
delivered a cub, which died sometime later. Gowri is now not displayed
to the public.

Mysuru zoo had Asiatic lions in 1989
but they could not breed. Rakshitha and Darshan, both of whom were
cross-bred, are the two other lions at the zoo.

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"If ever you feel like an animal among men, be a LION" -Criss Jami, American Musician and Poet. "Lion: The fiercest and most magnanimous of the four footed beasts" - Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (1755)

Asiatic Lion Protection Society

Asiatic Lion Protection Society (ALPS) founded in year 2006, is an NGO working mainly for conservation of Asiatic Lion in Gir forest and in Indian Zoos. Main objectives: To compile max. information about Asiatic Lion plus Gir forest and spread it through out the globe by website, blogs, Wikipedia, yahoo groups etc To help protection & conservation of Asiatic Lion & Gir forest by taking up projects like - Building parapets on open wells. - To contact and request nationalize banks of Gir area to put a condition to built parapet on open wells while sanctioning loan to farmers - At the time of festivals, organize camps near temples like Kankai, Banej & Tulsi Shyam to educate tourist to protect wildlife. - To distribute information and awareness leaflets at check-post to visitors using jungle roads. - Make representation & persuade Govt. to make Gir 'A Plastic Free Zone. Similarly contact local civil bodies to make their areas A Plastic free zone. To inform authorities about illegal activities inside the jungle like wood-cutting, removal of forest produce, poaching, illegal grazing etc. To inform authorities about injured wild animals. Also educate locals of Gir forests as well as school/college students to conserve Gir forest, it's wildlife and to represent to Govt. in favor of trans-location of Asiatic Lion to some other good place in Gujarat. P S: We welcome your comments & posts and expect that our conversation will follow the general rules of respectful civil discourse. You’re fully responsible for everything that you submit here in your comments & posts.

Discover Gir forest with us...

If you wish to travel Gir forest... we will be happy to help, guide and accompany you to explore Gir forest for the best experience. Please contact us for the same.

Gir forest...Gir lies has a topography made up of succession of rugged ridges, isolated hills, plateaus and valleys. Besides, being the last abode of Asiatic lions, Gir forms a unique habitat for ratel, rusty spotted cat, pangolin, ruddy mongoose, civets, paradise flycatcher etc.The overwhelming presence of the omnipotent big cat diverts the attention of the common man from the remarkable bird population that the sanctuary has. However, the birds of Gir sanctuary did attract the great ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali who believed that, had the Asiatic lions not been there, the area would have been one of the most fascinating bird sanctuaries of the country.People mostly link Gir with "Maldharis" who have survived through the ages by having symbiotic relationship with the lion. They are religious pastoral communities living in Gir. Their settlements are called "nesses".At present, Gir forests of Gujarat (India) is the only natural place where this race of lions i.e. Asiatic lion is found.